Digging implement.



L. J. BALI'Z. V DIGGI'NG IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 10 1910.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

" dredging-machines have been successful in UNITED STATES PATENT onnron.

LOUIS J". BALTZ, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

DIGGING IMPLEMENT.

Application filed December 10, 1910.

ments and more particularly to improvements in implement-s of thischaracter adapted for use in hydraulic dredging-machines whereinprovision is made for drawing the material dug by the implement into andthrough a tube by means of a pump.

Heretofore digging implements used on digging sand, gravel, orother'material or substances containing a large percentage of voids; butin digging stifi clay, hard pan or similar soil in which voids are notpresent, it has been impossible to successfully operate a diggingimplement combined with a suction tube.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a digging implementespecially adapted for digging stiff clay, hard pan or similar soil andto mechanically create voids in such material so that a hydraulic pumpcan be used in connection with the digging implement with as muchsuccess as when pumping sand or gravel.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a rotatable diggerhaving peripheral scoops at diflerent points around its circumferenceso' that it will dig into the soil and loosen a small quantity with eachscoop, thereby diminishing the possibility of clogging the digger.

Another object of my invention is theprovision of a hollow digger havingscoops arranged circumferentially ina plurality of longitudinal seriesand to so construct the digger that the scoops of one series loosen andremove the soil and govern the amount of soil that can be dug up by theadjacent series; these series of'scoops acting in effect to cut slicesor chunks of the hard soil in succession. 1

A further object-of my invention is the provision of teeth or rooters atthe cutting edges of the scoops serving to dig into the soil and causethe same to be scooped up in small chunks, thus creating voids in thesoil asit passes through the digger, said teeth or Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.-

Serial No. 596,662.

rooters being also of advantage in loosening the soil when it contains alarge percentage of stone.

Still further objects are, the provision of a'digger having means toassist in forcing the S011 through the digger; the provision of meansfor crushing stone or other solid matter that may be present in theclay, hard pan, or other soil as it passes through the digger, the stoneor solid matter being crushed so that it can easily be passed throughthe pump; and also to provide means to prevent stoppage of the pump inthe event of the digger becoming clogged.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruction of the digger, and in the arrangement and combination ofdevices as well as the construction, arrangement, and combination ofparts to be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in thesubjoined claims.

In the draWings,Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of a diggingimplement illustrating my invention in a representative way. Fig. 2 is atransverse section taken on line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail sectionof the improved stuffing-box with which my lmproved digging implement isequipped. Flg. 4 is a detailed section of the packingdevice locatedaround the digger-shaft and one end of the crusher-shaft. Fig. 5 is atransverse section taken on line 55, Fig. 1, on a reduced scale. Fig. 6is a side elevation of the digger proper. tached view of the worm orconveyer re moved from the digger shell. Fig. 8 is a side elevation ofthe relief gate. Fig. 9 is a central longitudinal section of a modifiedform of crusher adapted for use with my improved digger. I

Referring now to the drawings in detail, corresponding characters ofreference refer to corresponding parts in the several figures.

As my improved digging implement, in the embodiment of my inventionillustrated, is adapted for use on hydraulic dredging- Fig. 7 is a de-.

machines equipped with a pump and suction vice B, and a suction tube C.Passing centrally through the crushing-device is a shaft I) having itsouter end tapered, as at (Z, and onto said tapered end the digger A iscured, as will be described hereinafter.

The digger comprises a shell (4 having one or more series ofdigging-scoops (1, the scoops of each series being arranged at differentpoints circumferentially and the series being ranged lengthwise on thedigger shell. As shown in the drawings, the scoops are formed by curvingthe walls outward out of true circle with the shell proper to provideinlet-openings o for the admission of the soil into the digger'shell.The digger is provided internally with means assisting in directing thematerial dug toward the suction tube; and in the particular embodimentdescribed, Iprovide a norm or con veyer having one or more spiral. wallsE which extend outward from an elongated hub 6 having a disk 6 at itsouter end serving to close the outer end of the digger shell and fromwhich disk the spiral wall or walls extend rearward around said hub orpartly around the same, as the case may be, to the rear end of thedigger shell. The outer edges of said spiral walls and also the outeredge of the disk 0 have lateral flanges 6 into which take screws 0 thatare passed through the digger-shell. As the diggershell is tapered, thespiral walls become gradually widened toward their rear ends and theyextend from the hub c to the interior surface of the digger-shell at allpoints and thus provide, when two or more series of digger scoops areused, separated spiral passages F; the spiral walls being so arrangedthat a passage is provided for each scoop of the first series and sothat a. scoop of each of the remaining series feeds into a passage. Saidconveyor acts to direct the material dug by said scoops through theshell from all points in the circumference of the same.

lVhere the construction described is resorted to as an embodiment of myinvention, the shaft D is passed through the hub e of. the digger, whichhub is tapered to corre spend with the end of said shaft and keyedthereon by means of keys 0 so as to assure the proper rotation of thetrigger with said shaft. To prevent lengthwise displacement of saiddigger from the shaft, nuts G are threaded onto the extremity of theshaft, one of said nuts bearing against the end of the hub with theother nut animing against the first as a secure means of holding thedigger in place. The rear or inner end of the digger-shell is open andthe spiral pas sages F terminate at this point and conse quently permita free discharge of the material from the digger. By gradually cnlargingthe digger-shell toward the dis theretln'ough is prevented; and inaddition to this adraz-itage it provides, when a plurality of circnla'series of scoops are used for the cutting away of the soil, that thescoops of the outer series will prepare the soil for the succeedingseries, thus eliminating the possibility of the scoops working into thesoil and becoming fast in the attempt to cut away larger chunks orportions than intended for passage through the digger.

When digging hard pan containing stone or other material having a largepercentage of stone, 1 preferably equip the scoops with teeth or rootersH, any desired number being used for each scoop. These teeth or rootersassist in loose the soil and cause it to enter the digger in smallchunks so that it can be easilydrawn therethrough and into the pump (notshown) from which it may be discharged to any desired point. Those teethare also of value when the soil does not contain stone, since theyextend beyond the edge of the scoops and during the rotation of thedigger, cut narrow furrows into the soil, ctuiscquently the soil iscarried into the digger in small chunks so that the material passesthrough the digger with a large percentage of voids and makes the ainparatus as when as effective on soil of this nature digging sand orgravel. These teeth or rootcrs may be permanently fastened to, formedintegrally with, or remo ably applied to the scoo s as may be desired;and as l deem this merely a matter of iechanical skill, I desire to havethe illustration thereof considered fully disclosing such alternatearrangements.

The crushing device 13 comprises a shell preferably tapered opposite tothe taper the d i'gger and having its front end open and in contact withthe rear end of the digger; it forming a crusher chamber in rear of thedigger, which in effectcan be considered as an extension of the digger,and at the rear end of said crusher-she. I connect the suction tube C.Maid. crawler-shell and tube are held in fixed position in any suitablemanner on a boom, crane, or other object and serve as a support for theshaft D. For this purpose the crnshe -shell is provided internally atits front end with a spider 1, comprising a hub and radial arms 2'connecting the hub with the crusher-shell; said hub serving as ajournal. for the diggershaft which is also journaled in a bearing Jsecured to the suction tube C in rear of the crusher-shell. Thecrushersl1ell is open its rear or inner end and is made preferablyintegral with the suction tube C. or at least with a portion of thesuction tube adjacent thereto. The digger-shaft D may be rotated in anysuitable manner and at a point outside of the crusher shell it isprovided with charge end, clogging of material as it passes an eccentricportion D and with a collar D having a circumferential groove d formedtherein.

Surrounding the digger-shaft D is a hollow shaft K which may well betermed an auxiliary or crusher-shaft, the forward end of said shaftbeing entered in a depression is formed in the hub of the spider I; saiddepression being of slightly larger diameter than that of the hollowshaft entered therein, the rear end of said hollow shaft fitting ontothe eccentric portion D of the diggershaft. Since in the operation ofthe-digging implement the digger-shaft compels the hollow crusher-shaftto gyrate, the internal portion of said crusher-shaft is hollowed out toa greater diameter than the ends and the forward. end of said shaft hasits bore slightly flared, as at 76 so that when the hollow crusher-shaftchanges its position by reason of its being moved by the eccentricportion of the digger-shaft, the necessary play at the forward endthereof will be provided. Owing to the construction described, the axisof the hollow crusher-shaft is at a sight angle to that of thediggershaft which it surrounds, and therefore sufficient play must beallowed between the rear ends of said crusher-shaft and the collar Dwhich acts as a stop for said crusher-shaft; and to prevent leakage offluid matter at this point, a suitable packing-device L surrounds thecollar D and the adjacent end of the crusher-shaft and has packingmaterial Z clamped around the crusher-shaft and packing material Zclamped into the groove (Z of said collar.

The crusher-shaft extends through the rear open end of the crusher-shelland at this point I provide a closure M with a suitable stuffing-box mto prevent escape of fluid material along the crusher shaft. The closureM is slidably held against the rear face of the crusher-shell by meansof clips m secured to said shell and bearing against the marginalportion of said closure, thus enabling the latter to move andaccommodate itself to the movement of the crusher shaft.

The crusher-shaft is tapered near its front end, as at N, and providedwith an externally threaded portion adjacent thereto, as at a.Surrounding said tapered portion is a crusher-head O which is keyed tothe crusher-shaft by means of a key 0 to prevent rotation thereof; saidhead being held against displacement lengthwise by a lock nut 0 threadedonto the threaded portion a and bearing against the front end of saidhead.

Surrounding the crusher-shaftbetween the lock-nut 0 and. the spider I ofthe rusher shell, is a stuffing-box P, it being held slidably againstsaid spider by means of clips p secured to the latter and bearingagainst the marginal portion of said stufling-box so that the latter maymove and accommodate itself to the movements of the crusher-shaft. Inorder that access may be had to the interior of the crusher-shell, ahandhole Q is provided in the wall of said shell which is closed by acover Q siderably heavier where it surrounds the crusher-head O so thatit will be able to withstand the crushing strain to which it may besubjected, and at this point it is provided with a circular depressionIt in which chilled iron or'other hardened metal staves r are inserted,said staves'serving as a crusherlining which is tapered rearwardly whilethe crusher-head O, which said lining sur rounds, is tapered forwardlyand like said lining is also made of chilled iron or other hardenedmetal. By tapering the crusherlining and crusher-head in oppositedirections, a circular crushing-space S is formed between the two whichis gradually restricted in area toward the rear end of the crusher-shellso that stones or other solid matter entering said crusher'space will beeffectively clamped by the crusher-head, and during the gyratingmovement of said head be crushed into small particles, thus allowing thematerial to continue in its course through the crusher-shell and intothe suc The wall of the shell is made con-.

tion-tube, to be delivered from the latter in the usual manner.

In the event of the crusher or the digger becoming clogged by thematerial intended to be passed therethrough, I provide means to allowthe continued operation of the pump, and for this purpose the suctiontube is equipped with an opening T, normally closed by a valve or grateT pivotally attached to the suction tube so that it may open and closethe said opening. Said gate is preferably hinged at a central point, asat t, and it has an off-set flange t which normally bears against theinner surface of the crusher-tube; suitable means, such a lever t beingprovided for manipulating said valve or gate. The opening of the latterwill cause water to be drawn into the suctiontube and to the pump sothat the latter may continue to operate, and by means of bars or othersuitable implements passed through the hand-hole Q of the crusher-shell,the material clogged in the crusher or digger can be loosened andremoved so that upon closing the valve or gate T, the pump willimmediately act upon the material in the digger and crusher.

An oil passage U is formed in one of the arms 2' of the spider I andextends from the exterior of the crusher-shell to the depression 7c inthe spider, thus enabling the operator to supply the wearing parts ofthe digger and crusher shafts with oil.

Although I consider the crushing-device described as having considerablemerit for the purpose intended, the substitution of other crushing-meanscome fully within the.

range of my invention, and as one of the many substitutions possible, 1illustrate a modified form of crusher in Fig. 9. In this modified formthe digger-shaft D is also surrounded by a crusher-shaft, designated V,which extends through a removable head V closing the rear end of thecrushershell. This head has a depression forming a gear casing which isclosed at its rear end by a plate or cover o through which thedigger-shaft D extends. Secured to the rear end of the crusher-shaft Vin any suitable manner is a gear wheel V against which is held athrust-collar c which surrounds the diggershaft and is forced againstsaid gear wheel by the thrust screws o These parts are located in thegear-casing 0 is a pinion V in mesh with said gear-wheel and secured toa driving shaft W journaled in the cover '0 of the gearcasing and in thegear-casing itself. Intermediate its ends, the crusher-shaft V isprovided with a collar o and forward of said collar said crusher-shaii'tis made eccentric and is surrounded by a brass or other wearing sleeve Xwhich abuts against the collar if. Surrounding said wearing sleeve is acrusher-head X between the front end of which and the spider I of thecrusher-shell a distance-sleeve X is interposed. In this constructionthe digger-shaft and the crusher-shaft are operated by independent meansand the rotation of the crusher shaft causes a gyrating movement of thecrusherhead, whereby rocks or other solid matter entering thecrusher-shell are effectively crushed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is,"

l. A rotatable digger comprising a taper- 40 ing shell having aplurality of peripheral scoops arranged in series lengthwise 011 saidshell and spiral passages in said shell closed at the small end of thelatter and open at the rear end thereof, each spiral passage receivingthe material dug by one of each of the series of scoops.

2. A rotatable digger comprising a shell having peripheral scoops, anelongated hub arranged axially in said shell and having spiral vallsextending therefrom to the inner surface of the shell and a disk at oneend of said hub closing the corresponding end of said shell, said spiralwalls extending from said disk to the opposite end of said shell to formspiral passages through which the material dug by said scoops is passed.

3. In a digging-implement, the combination of a rotatable digger havingdigging elements, inlet openings and an outlet, a suction-tube, and acrushing-device between said digger and said suction-tube receiving fromsaid digger the material dug thereby and directing the same into saidsuction- 5 tube.

In testimony whereof, I have aiiiXed my signature in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

LOUIS J. BALTZ.

Witnesses ELLA C. PLUECKHAHN, EMIL NEUHAR'J.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. (1.

